Postgame Thoughts: Bears vs. Seahawks (9.27.09)

I don’t mean to be a glass is half-empty guy, but can the defense play any worse than they did against the Seahawks? Hopefully, we don’t have to find that out.

I think Dick Stockton pretty much summed up my thoughts best when he said after the game had ended:

“Just as they did last week, the Chicago Bears found a way to win.”

I guess all that matters is winning, and I’ll take an ugly win before I take a pretty loss. But why do the Bears have to “find” a way to win? Why can’t they just go out and get it? Or take it.

Let’s start with the bad and end on a good note. The Seahawks punted just two times in Sunday’s game, which means the game’s most dangerous return man ever was on the field just twice. However, Devin Hester’s alter ego — the game’s most enigmatic wide receiver — managed to make a few solid plays today, including the game-winning 36-yard touchdown reception.

Johnny Knox had just one reception against Seattle, but it went for a touchdown. It was good to see other receivers step up so that the rookie wouldn’t have to be relied upon every game. Earl Bennett led the Bears with 4 receptions for 80 yards. Hester had 5 catches for 76 yards and Greg Olsen had 5 catches for 44 yards and a score.

Little else went right for the Bears, who have yet to establish their run game after three games. This was supposed to be the game to get it going, facing a defense that gave up 207 rushing yards to Frank Gore last week. But Matt Forte managed just 66 yards on 21 carries for a 3.1 average. He at least contributed in the passing game with 6 receptions for 40 yards.

The defense continues to get gashed for big plays and long drives. People can harp all they want about how the Cover 2 defense is supposed to prevent big plays and prevent what matters most — scoring — while giving up yards here and there. But the more yards you give up, more opportunities for points present themselves. And the Bears should feel lucky that for the second straight week, the opposing kicker missed two field goals. That’s not going to happen every week, so it’s about time the defense steps up and makes a stop or two.

I tweeted this thought during the game, but it deserves an encore. Tommie Harris is no longer a name. He’s just a number to me. And No. 91 is no good. Not only is he not a factor in the defense, but he’s becoming a detriment to the defense.

Once again, Jay Cutler saved the Bears. If you swapped Cutler with Orton, the Bears would be 0-3 right now. Cutler impressed against the Seahawks with 247 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception on 21 of 27 passing. The interception was on a pass to Knox which the receiver tipped into the air into the waiting hands of a defender.

The Bears will now return home to face the Lions, who finally picked up their first victory after 19 straight losses. The pressure of losing to a team that had a 19-game losing streak will not be there, but this Lions team is not a pushover. There is a new culture in Motown and they’ve shown promise in the first three weeks of the season, particularly against the Redskins this week. They are not to be taken lightly.

Hopefully, the Bears can take a 3-1 record into the bye week.

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